Moldavite, from the Czech Republic (No.160)

A natural piece of Moldavite, unpolished. This piece exhibits traces of the elongated bubbles and cratering known as sculpting found only in genuine Moldavite.

The surface of this piece exhibits the open bubbles caused by the expansion of gasses in bubbles beneath the surface of the piece as it cooled.

Like other tektites, this specimen of Moldavite contains traces of microscopic bubbles.

Contrary to popular belief, these bubbles are not always visible to the naked eye and microscopic inspection may be required.

Moldavite from South Bohemia, such as this one, may also exhibit clearly visible larger bubbles or surface damage where these large bubbles may have been. Regardless of size, these bubbles may be either round or elongated. The elongated (or contractive) bubbles are visual evidence of the natural mechanical processes that the piece went through whilst hardening.

Moldavite was created over 14 million years ago when a huge meteorite struck what is now the Czech Republic in the area of the Moldau River from which it takes its name. The crater created by this impact is known as the Reis crater and is approximately 24 kilometres across and up to 3km deep. The town of Nordlingen (nr Stuttgart) has was built within the crater. The force of the impact meant that the Moldavite was thrown at least 300km from the impact site and up to 600km from "ground zero”

Classed as a tektite, this glass like material is created from silica materials from the area where the meteorite struck. This local silica gives Moldavite its distinctive (and unique) green colour.